About Self Esteem: improving self esteem

Most people learn about improving their self esteem in college. Some people go into college being very timid but come out quite confident. College life is about making new friends and having a good time when studying is taken care of.

Self esteem

Self-esteem refers to the inner sense of self-worth of a human being. How you regard yourself in your own personal judgment is a measure of your self-esteem. It is about being positive' self-assured and confident of one's own capabilities and being. It is also about appreciating and respecting one's own value as an individual' and maintaining a balance between assessing your own strengths and weaknesses.

Self-esteem is a particularly delicate matter in your formative years when you are still growing' evolving and developing your personality' character and an independent thought process.

Particularly' during the campus life' a strong self-esteem will make you survive the challenges of a competitive environment where everyone wants to be ahead of everyone else. It is here that your self-esteem comes to your rescue- if you did not win the coveted prize' if there were many others who scored better than you in exams' if your team lost a match due to your error' if you got rejected in love or friendship' or if you got treated badly or unfairly due to any discriminatory or prejudicial factors.

A strong self-esteem gives you the capacity to handle criticism' defeat and rejection in a mature way. It inculcates the positive spirit in you to try again and not get bogged down or depressed by any temporary setbacks in your life. More than anything' a strong self-esteem ensures that you have the ability to examine your own life' your own weaknesses and failures and mistakes. You learn to be introspective. You can find solutions to hurdles from within.

If your hard work' knowledge and practice improve your Intelligence Quotient (IQ)' it is your self-esteem that helps you to achieve a high Emotional Quotient (EQ). Both are equally important to move ahead in your life and maintain a high degree of stability and focus in the midst of peer pressure' personal ambitions and a rapidly moving life.

A student with a low self-esteem is bound to start losing out in every area to others. He will gradually withdraw into his own shell and suffer from a lack of self-confidence and disorientation of efforts' and experience feelings of anxiety' stress or depression.

HOW TO ENHANCE YOUR SELF-ESTEEM

Join a gym if you are gaining excessive weight or feeling low and lethargic. Start studying seriously and focus on achieving superior results in your exams. Or' take up some extra curricular activity or sport that interests you deeply. The moment you start earning small achievements' your self-esteem will start growing.

Basically' you need to think positively' and develop positive habits. It requires determination' commitment and focus. Channel your energies in the positive areas' rather than drowning yourself in negative thoughts or unhealthy habits.

Seek help from your counselor at the campus' or join a peer support group' and cooperate with their suggestions. Do your best to build up your self-esteem. Learn to laugh at your own mistakes' make friends and practice the art of being happy under difficult circumstances.

SUMMARY: Self-esteem is perhaps the most crucial element of your personal existence in the society. Particularly' campus life requires a high degree of self-esteem in order to get all that you have set out to achieve.